Thurman will return for seventh season with York Revolution

Already the longest tenured and most accomplished player in the history of the franchise, right-hander Corey Thurman will return to the York Revolution for a seventh season in 2014.

The signing, officially announced Wednesday by Manager Mark Mason, is the first of the upcoming season, officially kick-starting the process of building this year's roster with less than three months before the season opener.

Thurman enters the 2014 season ranking third all-time in Atlantic League history in wins (56), second in strikeouts (583) and fourth in innings pitched (822.1). He is the all-time leader in victories with one team and is also the winningest active pitcher on the circuit.

Thurman is York's all-time franchise leader in each of those categories. Overall for his Revs career, Thurman is 56-40 with a 4.59 ERA in a club-record 151 appearances (150 starts). For his minor league career, Thurman is 124-113 with a 4.24 ERA in 371 appearances, including 346 starts.

Thurman has posted four seasons of double digit victories with the Revs, including a 13-3 campaign in 2011 and a 14-3 mark in 2012, setting club records at the time for wins in a season. He was named to the Atlantic League's Postseason All-Star teams in both of those record-setting years and has appeared in three Atlantic League All-Star games, earning the starting nod in 2009 and 2011. He also helped the Revs capture back-to-back Atlantic League championships in 2010 and 2011, and owns a 2.54 ERA in five postseason starts with York.

"We are excited to bring Corey back for his seventh season in York," Mason said. "'Thurm' has been a leader in the clubhouse, on the field and in the community. He brings positive energy everyday to the ballpark. His success here speaks for itself and we are looking forward to him being a big part of our pitching staff again in 2014."

The 35-year-old is entering his 19th professional season in a career that began as a fourth-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in 1996. Thurman made it to the Major Leagues, appearing in 49 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 and 2003.

After originally signing with the Revolution in 2008, Thurman quickly made York his year-round home. Thurman resides with his wife Angela and daughter Ella, and spends his offseasons providing pitching instruction to many youth ballplayers throughout York County.

The 2014 season begins on April 24 when the Revs play host to the Camden Riversharks at Santander Stadium.

Tracy signed: The Baltimore Orioles signed former York Revolution infielder Chad Tracy to a minor league contract Wednesday, according to MASNsports.com reporter Roch Kubatko. Tracy, 28, is the son of former Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy and has yet to reach the majors in eight pro seasons. In 59 games with the Revs last season, Tracy batted .289 with nine homers and 37 RBIs.

He is the sixth former Rev to sign a minor league contract with a big league organization over the offseason, joining infielders Joe Thurston (Milwaukee Brewers) and Andy Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks), utility man Eric Patterson (Chicago White Sox) and pitchers Ryan Feierabend (Texas Rangers) and Josh Judy (Los Angeles Dodgers). Also, former Revs' pitcher Ian Thomas will return to the Atlanta Braves' minor league system in 2014 while former York pitcher Scott Rice is expected to return to the New York Mets' bullpen.